The Ecological Crisis as a Crisis of Agriculture Jevne Billiet, Anth. 3204.

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The Ecological Crisis as a Crisis of Agriculture Jevne Billiet, Anth. 3204

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Lack of Relationship Big corporations, such as Monsanto, almost completely lack a relationship with the land around them. Big corporations, such as Monsanto, almost completely lack a relationship with the land around them. Their relationship with the world cannot be defined, except for maybe in general terms. Their relationship with the world cannot be defined, except for maybe in general terms. Humans have become more removed from the world and the Earth than ever before, due to the overwhelming increase of consumption. Humans have become more removed from the world and the Earth than ever before, due to the overwhelming increase of consumption.

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The Conservation Movement Has not resolved dilemma of being removed from Earth and food. Has not resolved dilemma of being removed from Earth and food. Until recently, conservationists divided the country into two types of land: Until recently, conservationists divided the country into two types of land: The land for preservation and enjoyment, such as wilderness areas; The Pristine The land for preservation and enjoyment, such as wilderness areas; The Pristine The land designated for use by other people; The Critically Abused. The land designated for use by other people; The Critically Abused.

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Mentality of Conservation Divided between intentional protection of some places, and the inadvertent destruction of others. Divided between intentional protection of some places, and the inadvertent destruction of others. Vacation Oriented versus Crisis Oriented Vacation Oriented versus Crisis Oriented The typical conservationist will fight for what they enjoy, fight against the things that directly impact their health. The typical conservationist will fight for what they enjoy, fight against the things that directly impact their health. Usage becomes a problem, as the relationship between the environment and humans is a one way street. Usage becomes a problem, as the relationship between the environment and humans is a one way street.

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Terrarium View of the World Nature is always at a distance, or under a looking glass. Nature is always at a distance, or under a looking glass. Doing nothing with the Earth we have is, potentially, worse than abusing it. Doing nothing with the Earth we have is, potentially, worse than abusing it. The Earth requires upkeep to help it thrive, allowing wild plants to turn into brush is almost as bad as polluting. The Earth requires upkeep to help it thrive, allowing wild plants to turn into brush is almost as bad as polluting. Treating the land like an object; owned, set aside, watched, and eventually unused. Treating the land like an object; owned, set aside, watched, and eventually unused.

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Not Sharing Land Posting land with “No trespassing” signs prevents sharing of land, nature, and life. Posting land with “No trespassing” signs prevents sharing of land, nature, and life. Issue of private property becomes a class issue Issue of private property becomes a class issue If someone wants to put a trailer on a piece of land, but is not allowed to by environmentalists, this creates a situation in which environmentalists “ghettoize the poor” and trailer owner is forced to put trailer in a trailer park. If someone wants to put a trailer on a piece of land, but is not allowed to by environmentalists, this creates a situation in which environmentalists “ghettoize the poor” and trailer owner is forced to put trailer in a trailer park. Nature is delicate, but also resilient Nature is delicate, but also resilient

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To Use or Not To Use? Neither, but rather HOW to use it Neither, but rather HOW to use it As humans, our biological and cultural roots are in nature. Mankind started off in a world untouched by us. As humans, our biological and cultural roots are in nature. Mankind started off in a world untouched by us. It is essential for humans to remember this, and be able to observe it. We need to be able to understand the trackless humans. It is essential for humans to remember this, and be able to observe it. We need to be able to understand the trackless humans. We need places in the world that we do not use at all. We need to be able to leave something alone. We need places in the world that we do not use at all. We need to be able to leave something alone.

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How the Land Was/ Is/ Should Be Only by observing areas of land where nature’s processes have been undisturbed can we understand civilization’s impact on nature. Only by observing areas of land where nature’s processes have been undisturbed can we understand civilization’s impact on nature. If we see how the land was, we then see the difference we’ve made, and can then see how it should be. If we see how the land was, we then see the difference we’ve made, and can then see how it should be. This can be measured in terms of soil erosion, structure, or fertility This can be measured in terms of soil erosion, structure, or fertility

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Agricultural Land Most widespread and in need of consideration. Most widespread and in need of consideration. The relationship between farm and household is at an all time stretch The relationship between farm and household is at an all time stretch Households used to be dependent on local farms Households used to be dependent on local farms Farms and households were the producers, processors, sellers, and consumers of food Farms and households were the producers, processors, sellers, and consumers of food

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Meanwhile, in America Americans, though productive with their Agricultural work and relations with their communities, were not so good at maintaining a relationship with the Earth. Americans, though productive with their Agricultural work and relations with their communities, were not so good at maintaining a relationship with the Earth. The production to consumption process was purely designed with consumer’s needs in mind. The production to consumption process was purely designed with consumer’s needs in mind. Consumer’s needs propelled industry; Consumer’s needs propelled industry; Demanding food to be as cheap as possible, while producers wanted it to be expensive, but both wanted labor to be as little as possible. Demanding food to be as cheap as possible, while producers wanted it to be expensive, but both wanted labor to be as little as possible. Cheap products and convenience have been substituted for health Cheap products and convenience have been substituted for health

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Triumph of Technology Farmers may take pride in their ability’s, or their crops/ livestock Farmers may take pride in their ability’s, or their crops/ livestock These days however, all of the triumph made possible is due to technology. These days however, all of the triumph made possible is due to technology. Farming itself has changed from the work of the farmer, to the work of the equipment. Farming itself has changed from the work of the farmer, to the work of the equipment. Farmers who cannot finance such equipment often have to “get out” of the industry, making another farmer farm-less. Farmers who cannot finance such equipment often have to “get out” of the industry, making another farmer farm-less. The Land is not maintained as well, and usually becomes useless to the people who own it. The Land is not maintained as well, and usually becomes useless to the people who own it.

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A Farm Expert ≠ Farmer Strictly business oriented, land maintenance and problems are not a concern Strictly business oriented, land maintenance and problems are not a concern Disguised as progressive, but refused to examine the consequences large scale modern farming has created. Disguised as progressive, but refused to examine the consequences large scale modern farming has created. Exercised “agripower”, or ability to produce a marketable surplus, not concerned with soil health and fertility, and communities. Exercised “agripower”, or ability to produce a marketable surplus, not concerned with soil health and fertility, and communities. “Agripower should not be a political tool. Feeding people… is too serious a matter to be left to political manipulation”- Assistant Secretary Richard E. Bell “Agripower should not be a political tool. Feeding people… is too serious a matter to be left to political manipulation”- Assistant Secretary Richard E. Bell

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Farming= Business Income usually goes towards farm equipment, not soil conservation and maintenance. Income usually goes towards farm equipment, not soil conservation and maintenance. Farmers do not necessarily become better farmers, but bigger spenders. Farmers do not necessarily become better farmers, but bigger spenders. Production is not being paid for in just labor, money, and fuel, but also in land. Production is not being paid for in just labor, money, and fuel, but also in land. Farms aiming to be economically independent, more productive than consumptive, is now an old ideal. Farms aiming to be economically independent, more productive than consumptive, is now an old ideal.

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Thrift and Conservation Consumers becoming less concerned with conservation and thriftiness Consumers becoming less concerned with conservation and thriftiness “Innocent” participation in the contribution of waste created by unnecessary processing. “Innocent” participation in the contribution of waste created by unnecessary processing. Farm waste Farm waste Urban waste Urban waste Materials and energy for packaging Materials and energy for packaging Organic matter that is thrown away instead of composted Organic matter that is thrown away instead of composted

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Consumers, the Real Culprits By proxy, the ones to blame for the abuse of the land By proxy, the ones to blame for the abuse of the land Currently, more people are living from the land, and fewer are thinking about the land than ever before. Currently, more people are living from the land, and fewer are thinking about the land than ever before. Thoughtless eating: taking lives out of our land, thoughtlessly. No other civilization has done this. Thoughtless eating: taking lives out of our land, thoughtlessly. No other civilization has done this. Crisis of Culture: This issue cannot be remedied by technological breakthroughs, but by the people for the people ourselves. We must change this major aspect of our culture. Crisis of Culture: This issue cannot be remedied by technological breakthroughs, but by the people for the people ourselves. We must change this major aspect of our culture.

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Discussion Question So, we know several large scale changes must be made in order to secure the future of our land and our health, but what about the smaller things we can do to make the larger changes easier to conceive? Is this an easy fix, or not? So, we know several large scale changes must be made in order to secure the future of our land and our health, but what about the smaller things we can do to make the larger changes easier to conceive? Is this an easy fix, or not?